Approx. 13 miles, long climb chalk,
stone to Chanctonbury, good long gradual descent to R.Adur, climb back up
on flinty path & grass, tarmac, rough nr Truleigh Hill, short rough up & downs on chalk, finish on good grass.

After crossing the A24, the SDW
follows the tarmac road bending to the left then turning to the right widening
into a car park. Pass straight through, then the long (about 1 mile) slow climb
up to Chanctonbury Ring (230m) begins. Chalk, flint, loose stone. I have cycled
up, though on the BHF rides as legs tired by then, it was cycle/walk/ cycle/walk
.

Towards the top there is steep stony section of some 30 yards,
(see Westwards for PHOTO) then it levels
off. After a left turn at a bridlepath junction, quite a good hard gravel/grass
track (PHOTO below) towards Chanctonbury Ring passing over a cattle grid.

Chanctonbury
Hill

SDW passes just to
the south of the trees. There is a worn path slightly lower down to the right,
but I prefer the path nearer the trees. Once passed the clump of trees, a quite
fast slight down gradient on grass. On my 2006 BHF ride in May of last year, the
wind was so strong here that I was leaning over cycling across here, and it was
difficult not to be blown over !

You can see the
radio masts on Truleigh Hill from here (Youth Hostel there as well) (just
visible in PHOTO below; from there to Devils Dyke is another 2
miles or so though !

Thumbnail
of similar views

After passing Chanctonbury Ring,
follow the track; after 2.25 miles, you will come to a tarmac lane.

Annotated PANORAMA
from gate

There is a fenced off path to the left of the road. Follow this for nearly 1/2
mile. Then, turn left into field. There is then a quite fast descent on a grass
field for nearly 1 mile; there is worn path, good surface.

Photo below shows path going
across the field. A283 & river Adur are in the dip, with masts at Truleigh
Hill visible. The top 2 blue lines are on the tarmac lane which leads up to the
YHA.

Similar view, but after field.
Steepens as descends into Botolphs; gate, then rough tarmac lane.

At the bottom, join lane bending
to left, then at tarmac junction, turn right through village of Botolphs. Join
fenced off path to left of road, then at lay by, (vehicle height restrictor
across path) bear left towards river. (July 09: ride path resurfaced,
improved) Cross
River Adur. Water tap on right
under bush just before joining A283.

A283 is very busy single carriageway,
it can take 5 mins. before able to cross ! The SDW continues the otherside,
about 50 yards to the left of where you came up.

NB: Photo below is of going
westwards.

Than a steepish climb on narrow
bumpy grass for 0.5 miles,

coming into a field, then on exiting filed, join
tarmac lane for about 1 1/4 miles to Truleigh Hill. Lane deteriorates to flint
stone etc.

Truleigh Hill

April 09: Route update:
Mike A. kindly emailed to say just to east of YHA filled with builders
rubble, incl window frames and other 'tyre-shredding junk' !July
09: I rode along here; seems to have compacted slightly, could not see
any hazards but suggest still keep careful eye out !

The masts are visible from
Chanctonbury Ring, and I remember on my first ride, I thought that they were at
Devils Dyke; unfortunately, still had another 2.5 miles to go !! After them, it
still undulates quite steeply, chalk, flint.

Then at last a good stretch
of grass to the road at Devils Dyke ; finished ! , and so was
I after my first BHF ride with on bike without suspension !